Table-desk.



Nu. 695,82. Patented Mar. ll, I902.

V.. M. ARANA.

TABLE mask.

(Application filed Aug. 26. 1901.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: Q I y BY 7, 5

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES FFICEt A ENT TAB LE DES K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 695,132, dated March 11, 1902.

7 Application filed August 26,1901. Serial No. 73,221. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I,VIGTOR M. ARANA, a citizen of the Republic of Peru, residing at Notre Dame, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Desks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

My invention relates to an article of f urniture that may be used either as a desk or as a flat-top table, the object of the invention being to provide a capacious cabinet-desk that may be cheaply constructed and that may also be adapted to be covered when not in use without requiring the expensive rolltop usually employed; and a further object is to provide a cheap desk of this character which may be quickly transformed into a table.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the desk-cabinet may be depressed or lowered below the table-top in such a mannet as to be unobstructive, especially if the table be of small size.

With the above objects in View my invention consists in the parts and in the combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters in the several figures designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 represents perspect-ively a table-desk constructed substantially accordingto my invention and shown as a desk open for use, in which is an inkstand designed for use in this character of desk; Fig. 2, a top plan view of the table-top; Fig. 3, a fragmentary view of the front in elevation, a broken line A A dividing the figure into two different kinds of views, the half of the article at the left side of said line representing the cabinet as below the table-top, as when used as a table, and the half at the right side of said line representing the cabinet above the table-top, as when and the support for the front portion of the I cabinet, and Fig. 8 aperspective view of one of the pivotal members for the cabinet.

In construction I employ suitable legs a, a front rail 1), side rails c and d, and a rear rail 6, all rigidly connected suitably, as tables are usually made. The top of the table, a part of which also provides the leaf or Writingboard of the desk when used as such, is made in sections. The sections f, g, and h are secured to the foundation parts, either to the tops of the legs or to the rails or to both. The main central section i and the front section j are preferably connected together by hinges 7c, and both may slide forward, the side edges thereof being fitted in suitable guides in the edges of the sections f and When desired, the sections 11 j may be made as one piece; but usually the sectionil may be sufficiently broad for use as a writing-board for the desk, and in that case the section j may be folded under, as in Figs. 1 and 3, and retained by brackets Z, that are attached to the front rail Z) or by other suitable means.

The cabinet for the desk comprises a bot tom m, a back 12,, and sides 0 and 19, all secured rigidly together, and any desired number of'drawers 1 and 2, if desired, and shelves, as 3 4 5, and a top piece 6 and also partitions, as 7 and 8, dividing the shelves into pigeonholes. The sides 0 and 19 in plan are substantially'triangular, so that the general plane of the front of the cabinet is inclined when the bottom is horizontal. Therefore the lower shelves are deeper than the upper ones. The

top q of the rear rail 6 serves as a support for I the rear part of the cabinet when in use as a desk, and the forward edge r of the section it serves as a stop therefor; but bracket-support may be substituted for or used with the top edge (1, as will be obvious. At the sides of the table part are guide'bars s and t, situated at the inner sides of the rails d and 0, respectively, and below the plane of the table-tops, these guide-bars being similar in design and having each a channel a inthe side thereof opposing the similar side of the other guide-bar, the channels being in vertical opposing sides of the bars.

At the two lower forward corners of the cabinet are right and left pivotal members '0 and w, each having a pivot-pin y projecting from the outer face thereof and into a channel 11., whereby the front portion of the cabinet is supported at all times both pivotally and slidingly, as the pins y may slide in the channels a as well as partially rotate therein. The members 1; and to may be made in any suitable design and may extend against the outer faces of the sides 0 and 19, into which they may be sunk, as shown, or they may extend under the bottom m, and it is designed that they extend below the plane of theunder side of the bottom m, so that the pin 'gjthe pivot proper-shall be below and,- preferably, forward of the front corner of the bottom m. Thus when the cabinet is up the lower side of the bottom m will be in the same plane as the tops of the table legs and rails, and the tops of the bottom m and the section 11 will be in the same plane. Brackets 0c are attached to the inner sides of the rear legs a, upon which the upper parts of the back n of the cabinet may rest when depressed, or similar brackets may be secured to the rear rail e, if preferred.

The top piece 6 of the cabinet may be strengthened in any suitable manner so as to serve for grasping it with the hand for elevating and depressing, the cabinet, or it may be supplied with any suitable style of griphandle.

It should be understood that the pivotal members 12 and to may be varied in form, and sliding blocks may be used in the channels u to inclose the pins 3 if desired, the pins rotating in the blocks. Suitable hinges of course may perform the same function as the pivotal members, if attached to blocks sliding in the channels and also attached to the cabinet.

The inkstand designed for use in this article of furniture comprises a frame 9, having elevated sides, between which is an ink-font 10, swinging in pivots 11, so that the top of the font will remain level when the cabinet is tilted in its depressed position. The stand 9 rests upon the shelf 5 and against the back 41 and may have suitable means to prevent its sliding upon the shelf, but permitting it to be removed, so as to be placed elsewhere or on the bottom m when desired. The font may have a number of wells or receptacles, into which small articles may be placed to prevent them from gravitating to the rear parts of the shelves and becoming inaccessible when needed.

In practical operation let it be assumed that the desk as shown in Fig. 1 is to be transformed so that the cabinet shall be covered and the article of furniture be converted into a mere table. Draw the top sectiont' forward, which movement will release the section j from its temporary fastening. Then take hold with the hand of the piece 6, and while supporting the rear part of the cabinet push the cabinet for-' ward until the rear part may clear its usual supporting member and descend, the pins y sliding in the channels u and then rotating as the rear part of the cabinet is permitted to descend upon the brackets 00. Then push the sections 2' and j inward until stopped by the edge r, the edge q supporting the middle portions of the rear edge of the section t. To again convert the table into a desk, first draw the sections 2' and j forward then elevate the rear part of the cabinet and push it back upon the support q and against the stop 7, and then push the section tback against the bottom m and fasten up the sectionj, the lat ter being readily accomplished by holding it against the under side of the section 1' while pushing both back, the section j entering upon the bracket t.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A table-desk including a table-frame, a desk-cabinet mounted in the frame below the top thereof so that the bottom and the back of the cabinet shall be in diverging inclined planes, supporting members against whichthe back of the cabinet is supported, pivotal members supporting the forward portions of the cabinet, and supporting members upon which the rear part of the bottom of the cabinet may be supported when elevated.

2. The combination, with a table having an aperture in the top thereof and a sliding top section,'of a desk-cabinet substantially triangular in transverse section and mounted under the sliding section so that the plane of the front of the cabinet shall be substantially horizontal, supports for the body of the cabinet attached to the table, independent supporting members connected with the forward portion of the cabinet and also with the table, and independent means whereby the body of the cabinet may be supported in an elevated position.

3. In a table-desk, the combination of a table-frame, a movable top section, a desk-cabinet having sides triangular in plan and mounted in the frame, means whereby the cabinet may be supported, and limiting members whereby the cabinet may be stopped with the bottom and the back thereof in diverging inclined planes and the plane of the front face of the cabinet horizontal.

4. In a table-desk, the combination of the table-legs, the table-rails, the guide-bars having the channels therein, the cabinet, the

pivotal members attached to the forward In testimony whereof I affix my signature parts of the cabinet and having the pivot-pins in presence of two Witnesses. in said channels, the hinged top sections mounted slidingly, the temporary fastening 5 for the forward one of said hinged sections, Witnesses:

the supports for the cabinet at the rear table- WM H. PAYNE, rail, and a pivoted ink-font in said cabinet. E. T. SILVIUs.

VICTOR M. ARANAi 

